Buying a piece of Burris Farm Market history — and making way for something new in Loxley

LOXLEY, Ala. (UPDATED 5:30) — The baskets, the shelves, and the coolers have been empty for a while now. All of that and the rest of the contents of the 18,000-square-foot building that housed the Burris Farm Market are on the auction block.

“Everything you see in here, everything that has got a sticker, kitchen sinks, the toilets, the doors, the windows, the tin off the metal roof,” says Greg Burris.

After more than four decades in the business, Burris says a new resident will take over at least part of the prime piece of real estate at the corner of Highway 59 and County Road 64 in Loxley. “We’ve been told that Wawa is going to purchase it and build their store here,” he said.

Locals like Sammy Johnson have fond memories of the Loxley landmark.

“Just stopping by and usually buy green peanuts there and produce,” Johnson said.

Larry York will also miss it. “After something has been around a long time, you kind of get used to it,” he said.

For Burris, it is not so much about the business and the produce but the people.

“We looked it up the other day,” he said. “We’ve had over 500 employees. A lot of those people got their first job here.”

After the auction, the building will eventually be demolished, but Burris might not be done just yet. “If I have a good peach crop, I might just set up back there and sell peaches.”

Burris says Wawa didn’t buy the whole five acres, only half of it, and there might be something else coming for all to enjoy in Loxley.

In the meantime, that online auction is set for next Tuesday, October 15th.

ORIGINAL STORY:

LOXLEY, Ala. ( WKRG ) — A local landmark is going on the auction block after more than four decades of serving tourists and locals fresh produce.

Burris Farm Market was open to the public on Highway 59 until Greg Burris announced he would be closing earlier this year.

Now, everything inside the 18,000-square-foot building will be up for auction.

The live and online auction will start at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, with a walk-through the day before. (The preview is Monday, Oct. 14, 1-4 p.m. or by appointment.)

Burris said it’s been a good run and that half of the five-acre property at the corner of Highway 59 and County Road 64 will be sold to the Wawa group for another convenience store in Baldwin County.

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